insurance questions

So got off the phone with sunbiz. -.- They said i cannot even apply for an LLC OR INC since i don't have employees. Then i asked if i still need some sort of business license to prove im a licensed business, and I get,
"do you sell products?"
"No, im a service."
"Oh well, yeah... um... i don't know...."

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there is no license for mowing. You need to go to the electronic filing tab on sunbiz. It's easy. Or you can look into a service such as legal zoom or a local cpa. Pretty sure you won't be able to get a bank account without being on sunbiz...

Im also pretty sure you need to hold a tax receipt for every city and county you work in but nobody does...

thanks man. You've been a huge help so far. I'd say maybe they need helpful people like you working for the city, but that'd probably be an insult as city doesn't seem to hire smart people. I feel like imma be a bit more pain in the ass for asking but under electronic filing tab where do i go? I happened to look earlier but i got a bit overwhelmed with all these different things because non said directly what i assumed im looking for.

If you don't want to have a LLC or INC then you can just file your fictitious name under the fictitious name tab. I don't think you will need any of the ad ons just the $50 bucks and file. The copies are useful for opening bank accounts etc but they can just as easily look them up on the sunbiz website now. If you want to open a LLC or INC then this is the time you want to do it. A LLC is pretty much a Sole proprietorship if you don't elect to be a S corp with the IRS but it will separate your personal and business assets as long as you don't use the LLC to pay for your personal bills etc. It may be very beneficial for you to contact a CPA and usually they have a flat fee to file everything for you and explain different tax benefits to you. If you're going full time I would highly suggest doing so or at least try to speak with a SBA person usually for free they will be the best unbias help you can find probably. I personally would suggest a LLC and file form 2553 to elect to be taxed as a S corp by march 15th for a full time solo op. I would then pay myself a salary and register with the FL department of revenue and buy quickbooks with payroll. I would then take some profits as a distribution so I don't pay self employment taxes on every bit of earnings. I'm younger and healthy I don't know what your situations are. I also have private disability insurance...
For insurance I would look into general liability with a broker. I personally used travelers and it was the most affordable I could find with a decent rated company. I had no equipment coverage (equipment rider). I had insurance through my storage facility for parking my equipment at night. On the road I would be SOL if something happened. I never had really expensive equipment so I could easily replace my 5,000 in equipment if I had a total loss. It would have cost me like 1200 I believe going off the top of my head a year to have equipment coverage.

Yeah, this is just for my first year. I planned on bringing in employees next year. Atleast one on the books. Got a budy who might do a little help if things get to much for me to handle on my own, but I think I'll be fine as I've only got 3 lawns.

Try a different bank next time. You can search my posts, my wifey is a banker and all I needed for our's was our dba and my ss#. Not to argue, just letting people know there are options to some things.

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This is accurate. When I first started I had zero employees, not on sunbiz, no EIN # ....still opened a DBA account at my bank with no issues. It amazes me sometimes how little is actually required.
Everyone on this site screams at noobs for not having insurance or license etc etc.... I have had since day one and on average get asked for proof from a residential customer maybe twice annually. Commercial is hit and miss with the size and structure of the company.

This is accurate. When I first started I had zero employees, not on sunbiz, no EIN # ....still opened a DBA account at my bank with no issues. It amazes me sometimes how little is actually required.
Everyone on this site screams at noobs for not having insurance or license etc etc.... I have had since day one and on average get asked for proof from a residential customer maybe twice annually. Commercial is hit and miss with the size and structure of the company.

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Yea but you gave them your SS# I don't think they will let you use an EIN without being on Sunbiz but like I said I could be wrong. I only bank with BOA and SF.

So i got all the licensed part figured out. Now i need to know where to go to get general liability insurance. I'm bit confused on who offers it and who has good prices for someone who doesn't want their equipment covered and has no employees.